Swimming World Biweekly: Total Shutdown, Covid-19

March-21-2020-slider

In this issue of Swimming World Biweekly, read about the impact that the Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19) has had on the entire aquatic community.  John Lohn writes about the IOC’s hesitancy to cancel the olympics.  Craig Lord writes about what other countries are doing in the wake of the pandemic. Liz Byrnes writes from the athlete’s perspective. Dan D’addona and Andy Ross feature stories about the NCAA fallout.  Matt De George tells of a feel good story for a NCAA DIII Coast Guard swimmer. All of this and more including Swimming World’s 2020 Swim Camp Directory in this SW Biweekly issue. 

The latest issue of Swimming World Biweekly
is now available for download in the Swimming World Vault

 


Total Shutdown Cover

[PHOTO CREDIT: Peter H. Bick]

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FEATURES

008 IOC DOESN’T WANT TO MAKE “ANY DRASTIC DECISIONS” ON TOKYO 2020
by John Lohn
As the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic and most sports leagues and events have shut down operation for the foreseeable future, the IOC said it was too early to make “any drastic decisions” about staging this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, scheduled for July 24-Aug. 9.

009 IOC RESPONDS TO ATHLETES’ QUESTIONS OVER TOKYO 2020 AND ADMITS: “NO SOLUTION WILL BE IDEAL”
by Liz Byrnes
The IOC has said “no solution will be ideal” in response to criticism from athletes who questioned how the IOC could say with certainty that Tokyo 2020 will go ahead in July as planned.

010 FRENCH SWIMMING BOSS AND PHARMACIST ON THE FRONTLINE OF CORONAVIRUS WAR DENOUNCES IOC AND TOKYO
by Craig Lord
Gilles Sezionale, head of the French Swimming Federation and a pharmacist by profession, told the IOC and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games organizers that he is stunned by their lack of action. He claims their message of the “Games must go on” is unrealistic and that the Olympics should be postponed until 2021.

012 OLYMPIC BOSSES SAID TO HAVE RULED OUT SPECTATOR-FREE TOKYO 2020 GAMES AS BACH FACES RISING TIDE OF CALLS TO POSTPONE
by Craig Lord
The IOC appears to have ruled out staging the Tokyo 2020 Games without spectators because it would run counter to their philosophy of bringing people together from every corner of the world in a “politics-free-zone” celebration of sport.

014 GERMANY POSTPONES OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS UNTIL AT LEAST END OF MAY
by Craig Lord
In response to COVID-19 lockdown measures coming into force across the nation and Europe in general, Germany suspended all aquatics events until May 31 “to preserve the health and safety of athletes, members, staff and volunteers.”

016 NCAA SWIMMING CANCELLATION: “POWERFUL STUFF WHEN YOU HAVE TO MESS WITH KIDS’ DREAMS”
by Dan D’Addona
While everyone seems to be on the same page about canceling the NCAA Championships, it is still devastating to the athletes who will miss their final competitions—especially the seniors.

018 KATIE DRABOT, NCAA SWIMMERS TRYING TO FIND PLACES TO TRAIN, SLEEP AFTER CAMPUSES CLOSE
by Dan D’Addona
It was tough enough to learn that the NCAAs would be canceled. But then swimmers were faced with another challenge: where to sleep and train after campuses were closed down across the country.

019 NCAA AGREES ELIGIBILITY RELIEF APPROPRIATE FOR SPRING SPORTS; WINTER SPORTS STILL UNCERTAIN
by Andy Ross
Amidst the coronavirus outbreak that has wiped out the remaining seasons for NCAA winter and spring sports, the NCAA has agreed that eligibility relief—to be finalized at a later time—is appropriate for all Division I athletes who have participated in spring sports. However, winter sports—such as swimming and diving as well as women’s water polo—were
not included in the NCAA’s initial statement.

020 ALBIERO FATHER-SON BOND GROWING THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND TOUGH TIMES
by Dan D’Addona
After NCAAs were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, teammates on college teams leaned on each other like families. At Louisville, that is especially true as Coach Arthur Albiero and his son, Nicolas, bring a unique father-son/coach-swimmer relationship to the Cardinals swimming team.

022 SUN YANG AND TEAM FACE NEW QUESTIONS OVER 2014 DOPING POSITIVE
by Craig Lord
Sun Yang’s 2014 doping positive comes back into view as CHINADA’s datelines for its Chinese version of the WADA code raises questions.

026 IN SERVICE OF SWIMMING DREAM, COAST GUARD ACADEMY’S JOE RODRIGUEZ MAKING HISTORY
by Matthew De George
If you’re a little surprised to see Joe Rodriguez representing the Coast Guard Academy on the podium of the NCAA D-III Championships or at Olympic Trials, the senior doesn’t mind. Not starting swimming until his junior year of high school, he’s occasionally in awe of how far the swimming journey has taken him, too.

028 ADAM PEATY ON A QUEST TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF HIMSELF WITH 56.5 IN HIS SIGHTS
by Liz Byrnes
Adam Peaty’s desire to keep pushing his physical and psychological limits to wherever that may take him is what drives Great Britain’s world record holder. Nearly a second-and-a-half faster in the
100 meter breast than the No. 2 swimmer all-time, Peaty continues making what appears impossible, possible. His next goal: 56.5—“that’s the end game really.”

030 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE INTRODUCES TORONTO TITANS TO 2020-21 SEASON; ADD MASSE, CHADWICK AND SANCHEZ
by Andy Ross, Dan D’Addona and Matthew De George
The Toronto Titans will be one of 10 teams to compete for the ISL title next season.

032 SWIMMING WORLD’S 2020 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY

040 PARTING SHOT

TOC-SWBW 03-21-20

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